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Speakers: Anything really new under the sun?

After a 20-year hiatus (kids, braces, college, a couple of new roofs, etc.) I'm slowly getting back into hi-fi.  My question: is there really anything significantly new in speakers design/development/materials? I'm a bit surprised that the majority of what I see continues to be some variation of a 2- or 3-way design -- many using off-the-shelf drivers -- in a box (usually MDF at it core) with a crossover consisting of a handful of very common, relatively inexpensive components. I'm asking in all sincerity so please don't bash me. I'm not trying to provoke or prove anything, I'm just genuinely curious. What, if anything, has really changed? Would love to hear from some speaker companies/builders here. Also, before one of you kindly tells me I shouldn't worry about new technologies or processes and just go listen for myself -- I get it -- I'll always let my ear be my guide. However, after 20 years, I'm hoping there's been some progress I may be missing. Also, I unfortunately live in a hifi-challenged part of the country -- the closest decent hifi dealer is nearly 3 hours away -- so I can't just run out and listen to a bunch of new speakers. Would appreciate your insights. 

jaybird5619
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

I think advancement in speakers is similar to advancement in other electronics like TVs and computers. Many things are similar and there’s amazingly good speakers at reasonable price points.

In the active speaker space ^this^ is clearly true.

If the OP is looking for passive, then it gets more nuanced.

 

Also, I unfortunately live in a hifi-challenged part of the country -- the closest decent hifi dealer is nearly 3 hours away -- so I can’t just run out and listen to a bunch of new speakers.

Which area is that? Flagstaff, Idaho, or Wyoming?

The other problem is that the dealer has an advantage in that they

  1. have a room that is set up
  2. content that plays well on what they are selling.
  3. control of the volume knob.

Unless you bring your own content there are a lot of variables that will alter what sounds good in your space relative to theirs.

But it is worth listening. Just also worth knowing that one cannot remember sounds too well over a time gap between shops.

  • Do you have your 20 year old speakers?
  • What is wrong with those that you do not like?
  • How big are they?
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

NO! 

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
6,031 posts
 

Interesting discussion. I would have thought that the "materials science" factor, mentioned by a couple folks here, would have answered the question as "yes," but apparently this factor is just a minor one in the eyes of some. Hmmm. I guess I really don't have a good grasp on what, overall, makes a speaker design "different" in a significant way. 

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

The materials science existed in the 80s and 90s too , and some well behaved speakers were made.

Why are there still speakers being made with nasty resonances?
(Cost is the main “driver”)

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
6,031 posts
 

@holmz Not sure what you're saying. Are saying something like,

(a) "There was such a thing as "materials science" back then?

That's too obvious a point for me to assume you're making.

The other option is that you're implying something like,

(b) "Not a lot of progress has been made in materials science as it applies to audio."

Do you mean (a) or (b) or something I'm missing? Thank you.

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